 |
|
 |
The Houses of Iszm by Jack Vance:
Science Fiction Inventions, Technology and Ideas
Splendid novel by Vance is both a mystery story and an introduction to an unforgettable world. Iszm, a planet in the Xi Aurigae system, offers amazing houses that consist of living trees with attached pods for living space.

('The Houses of Iszm' by Jack Vance)
The Iszic guard constantly against the possibility that an offworlder would steal a female plant - one that could provide millions of tree-seeds, breaking their monopoly. Very accessible example of Jack Vance, one of sf's great stylists, in perfect form. Select
an invention:
Boat-Tree A tree, the pods of which can be grown as boats.
|
Pod-Chair A living chair, grown by the Iszc to perform its function.
|
Radiant - just like RFID A chip that is injected into the shoulder, providing positioning and information about the subject.
|
Radiant Shield A device that would effectively prevent an implanted radiant from being detected or read.
|
Sentry Trees A set of trees that will allow only those with the safe signal to pass.
|
Shatter-Gun A hand-held device that literally scrambles the brains of the victim.
|
Technovelgy.com is devoted
to the creative inventions of science fiction authors and movie makers. Look
for the Science Fiction Invention Category that
interests you, the Glossary of Science Fiction
Inventions, the Timeline of Science Fiction
Inventions, or see what's New.
Find new authors and technologies - Shop for yourself,
your library and your lab.
|
 |
Science
Fiction
in the News
JAXA Int Ball 2 Coming Right Along As Star Wars Remote
re: George Lucas
(3/15/2025)
Robot Bricklayer Or Passer-By Bricklayer?
re: Bruce Sterling
(3/13/2025)
Robot Gas Station Attendant Pumps Gas For You
re: Philip K. Dick
(3/11/2025)
Engineer Creates Crazy Motorized Track Hospital Bed
re: Katsuhiro Otomo
(3/9/2025)
Tiny Flying Robot Weighs Just One Gram
re: Neal Stephenson
(3/7/2025)
Some Ringworld Configurations Are Stable
re: Larry Niven
(3/5/2025)
TRANSFORM Dynamic Furniture Concept Becomes What You Need
re: Larry Niven
(3/3/2025)
Harvard Metamaterials Change Structure Instantly
re: Samuel R. Delany
(3/1/2025)
SnapBot Robots - You Choose Their Legs And They Choose Their Gaits
re: Milton K Smith
(2/27/2025)
Dino From Magical Toys An AI Companion To Children
re: Anne McCaffrey
(2/25/2025)
Humanoid Robots Building Humanoid Robots
re: Isaac Asimov
(2/23/2025)
Darpa 'Defiant' Unmanned Autonomous Ship
re: Miles J. Breuer
(2/21/2025)
What's The Best Way To Ship And Unpack Humanoid Robots?
re: Elizabeth Bellamy
(2/19/2025)
DNA Printed Book By Isaac Asimov Now Available
re: Barbara Hambly
(2/17/2025)
More
SF in the News
|
 |